Bending device

ABSTRACT

A device and method is described for bending an elongated article which comprises an elongated body having a transverse passage therein. Two convex wall sections within the body act as defining elements of the passage. An article is positioned within the passage and formed by altering the angle between the major axes of the body and article by rotating the body and/or article in a plane operatively parallel with the two axes. This device is especially useful when the article to be formed, such as tubing, is attached in a confined location.

Unite States aiem 1 Hargash BENDING DEVICE [75] Inventor: Paul Hargash, Saginaw, Mich.

[73] Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company,

Midland, Mich.

[22] Filed: Dec. 2, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 94,408

[52] US. Cl. 72/458, 72/388 [51] Int. Cl B2lj 13/08 [58] Field of Search 72/459, 217, 458, 72/388 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 627,162 6/1899 Wallace 72/217 2,709,382 5/1955 Safranski 72/459 1,510,162 9/1924 Robinsonw. 72/459 1,265,102 5/1918 Morris 72/217 1,118,056 11/1914 Ross 72/458 2,796,784 6/1957 Kowal et al..... 72/388 2,502,713 4/1950 Fagge 72/388 3,301,036 l/l967 Davis 72/457 [451 Sept. 11, 1973 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 1,099,859 9/1955 France 72/217 194,149 l/l907 Germany 72/217 108,974 l/l924 Switzerland 72/459 Primary ExaminerCharles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-M. J. Keenan Attorney-Griswold & Burdick, William R. Norris and Lloyd S. Jowanovitz [5 7] ABSTRACT A device and method is described for bending an elongated article which comprises an elongated body having a transverse passage therein. Two convex wall sections within the body act as defining elements of the passage. An article is positioned within the passage and formed by altering the angle between the major axes of the body and article by rotating the body and/or article in a plane operatively parallel with the two axes. This device is especially useful when the article to be formed, such as tubing, is attached in a confined location.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1.140 v -1jcz r5 Patented Sept. 11, 1973 3,757,560

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. POu/ f/argas /7 BY H TTO RNE Y5 BENDING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to forming and more particularly to bending of elongated articles.

It is frequently necessary to bend elongated articles such as tubes, thin wall pipes, rods and bars. Various devices are available for bending readily accessible articles. However, these devices are generally inadequate for bending elongated articles which are difficult to reach or have been attached to another body. A tool is greatly needed, which can be economically constructed and is sufficiently small in size to gain entry into apparatus, such as, instrument panels, valves, and sampling blocks, for bending elongated parts. It is also desirable that such a bending tool be employable in areas where the article to be bent is readily accessible.

It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide a device for bending, which can be economically constructed and can be utilized both in confined and readily accessible locations.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent during the course of the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The device of the present invention has surmounted the above difficulties and the aforementioned objects have been achieved therein. The device comprises an elongated body having at a first end a passage extending transversely through said body to receive an elongated article. The passage has, as defining elements, two convex wall sections of a predetermined cross sectional configuration to accept wall sections of an elongated article having a similar shape. The convex wall sections are positioned in a generally opposed relationship in a plane which simultaneously longitudinally bisects the convex wall sections and is operatively parallel to the major axis of said body. The plane is operatively parallel to the major axis of said body when a force moment sufficient to bend an article positioned within the passage can be created by exerting forces on said body in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the passage.

An elongated article having a shape and size similar to that of the cross-section of the passage at the apex of the convex surfaces can be bent up to 180 without significantly altering the cross-section geometry of the article being bent. This device can additionally be used to create a multiplicity of bends within the same elongated article without removing said article from the bending device.

The method for using the aforementioned device comprises inserting the elongated article in the passage extending through the body, bending the article up to about 180, and then removing the article from the passage of said device.

This device and method provide means of economically bending elongated members, especially tubing or thin wall pipe, without significantly altering or deforming the cross-sectional configuration of the formed article.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings further illustrate the invention:

FIGS. 1, 3, 5, and 7 are embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 2 and 6 are side views of the aforementioned FIGS. 1 and 5 respectively.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the device of FIG. 3 along plane 44.

Identical numerals, distinguished by a letter suffix, within the several figures represent parts having a similar function within the different embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an elongated body assembly 11 with a flange section 13 on one end of first handle 29. Connected to flange section 13 by a through extending spindle 17 is a rotatable circular member 15. Convex wall sections 14 and l4aare located on the flange end of handle 29. Wall section 14 is defined by the peripheral surface of circular rotatable member 15 located below spindle 17; and the opposing convex surface of handle 29 defines wall section 14a. Rotatable member 15 is rotatably and detachably mounted on the generally rectangular flange 13 by means of spindle 17 extending from said flange. Rotatable member 15 is positioned so that a plane simultaneously bisecting wall sections 14 and 14a is operatively parallel to the major axis of handle 29. The major axes of body assembly 11 and handle 29 coincide. Convex wall sections 14 and 14a respectively have concave generally arcuately shaped grooves 19 and 21 extending from side 23 to side 25 of assembly 11. The approximate cross-sectional geometry of an elongated article, which can be bent by this device, is represented by smallest cross-section of passage 27. The smallest cross-sectional configuration of passage 27 is at least partially defined by the closest points or apices of spaced apart convex wall sections 14 and 14a and, optionally, partly by the inwardly directed surface of flange section 13.

In use, an elongated article of the general shape of passage 27 is inserted or positioned within said passage. After insertion of the article within passage 27, handle 29 can be rotated in plane operatively parallel to the major axes of the handle 29 and the passage 27, while the article remains stationary, to produce a bend in said article. Alternatively, handle 29 can remain stationary, or move in a direction opposite the articles motion, while the elongated article positioned in passage 27 is rotated in a plane operatively parallel to a major axes of the handle 29 and article to alter the angle between the handle and article. When the article is rotated toward handle 29 the radius of the bend in said article will conform to and curviture of wall section 140.

However, when the article is moved in a direction toward rotatable member 15 the bend within the article will conform to the radius of wall section 14.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, elongated body assembly 11a has a regular quadrilaterally or rectangularly shaped passage 27a extending from side 23a to side 25a. The major axis of the passage is in a plane generally normal to the major axis of first handle 29a. Passage 270 has convex surfaces 14b and 140 and flanges 13a and 13b of handle 29a as defining elements. A releasable flange closure 31 is detachably mounted to handle 29a by means of spindle 17a and securing The second handle 29b of assembly 11a is pivotally mounted to first handle 290 by pivoting means 37, such as a bolt, pin, or screw. A section of reduced thickness of first handle 29a can be adapted to have a locking means or radially extending serrations 43. A reduced section of second handle 291) can likewise be constructed to have mating radially extending serrations 45 to engage serrations 43.

The embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 also includes chamfered hole 47 in the end of second handle 29b longitudinally opposite serrations 45. Chamfered hole 47 can be effectively utilized to hang the bending tool for storage or effectuating non-critical bends in elongated materials.

In operation, an elongated form of basically rectangular configuration is inserted in passage 27a and a bend formed therein in a manner similar to that described for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. However, in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, screw 33 can be loosened or removed to permit the releasable flange closure 31 to pivot around spindle 17a or be removed from the first handle 29a to permit access to passage 27a from side 49 of body assembly 11a. This feature can be of great benefit when the ends of the article to be bent, such as a tube, are inaccessible and cannot be inserted into passage 27a from either side 230 or side 250. After the article has been positioned within passage 27a from side 49, the releasable flange closure 31 can be rotated to its original position and screw 33 tightened.

The device of FIGS. 3 and 4 has greater versatility than the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that second handle 290 can be rotated around bolt 37 to afford greater leverage during bending in confined locations. After loosening bolt 37 and rotating handle 29b to the desired location, bolt 37 can be tightened. Second handle 29b is prevented from moving, when forces are applied to bend an article, by serrated section 43 seating in mating serrations 45.

A preferred embodiment of the described bending device is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. First handle 29c of body assembly 11b is of a configuration similar to a regular rectangular prism having a bifurcated section or flanges 13c and 13d on one end. Detachably located between the generally rectangular flanges 13c and 13d are circular rotatable members 15a and 15b. Rotatable members 15a and 15b are detachably mounted to flanges 13c and 13d by means of spindle 17b and 17c respectively. In this embodiment rotatable members 15a and 151: are in a shape similar to that of a hyperboloid. The peripheral wall portions of rotatable members 15a and 15b between spindles 17b and 170 define convex wall sections 14d and 14e. Rotatable members 15a and 15b are so positioned that a plane operatively parallel to the major axis of handle 29csimultaneously bisects wall sections 14d and 14a. Convex wall sections 14d and 14s define arcuately shaped grooves 19a and 19b, respectively. Passage 27b is bounded by wall sections 14d and 14s and, optionally, flange sections 130 and 13d. Passage 27b extends from side 23b to side 25b of body assembly 11b.

The configuration of rotatable members 15a and 15b and of wall sections 14d and 14 is limited only by the cross-sectional configuration of the article to be bent. For example, said rotatable members can be in the shape of a prism having a multiplicity of sides, a cylinder cone, frustrum of a cone, hyperboloid and the like.

Likewise, the configuration of wall sections 14d and 14a is limited only by the transverse geometric shape of the elongated article to be positioned within passage 27b for bending. Therefore, the surface of said wall sections can be linear, parabolic, semi-circular, V-shaped, and the like in shape.

To permit insertion of an elongated article into the bending device of this embodiment, when the ends of said elongated article are inaccessible, releasable flange closure 31a is incorporated into the bifurcated end of first handle 29c. Said releasable flange closure can rotate about or be removed from spindle 17b after securing means or screw 330 has been loosened and removed from first handle 29c. After the releasable flange closure 31a has been rotated, spindle 17c can be removed from flange sections 13c and 13d of first handle 29c. When spindle 17c has been removed, circular rotatable member l5b can be moved to produce additional space for insertion of an elongated article into the bending device. In this embodiment an article can be positioned in the passage from a direction generally normal to the major axis of the article.

Circular rotatable members and 15b can be readily removed from between flanges 13c and 13d by removing spindles 17b and 17c. Rotatable members 150 and 1517 can then be replaced by members with convex wall sections of a different geometric configu ration or by members either larger or smaller in size.

The operation of the preferred embodiment illus trated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is similar to that described previously for the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, in the current embodiment bends made around rotatable member 15a will have a bend radius smaller in diameter than bends in articles formed around rotatable member lSb. It is conceivable that a single article can be sequentially bent around both circular rotatable members 15a and 15b.

The preferred embodiment of the bending device shown in FIG. 7 comprises second handle 29d of elongated body assembly 1 1c detachably affixed to cylindrically shaped first handle 2% by a first pivoting means or bolt 37a. A third handle 29f is detachably attached to second handle 29d by a second pivoting means or bolt 37b. Bifurcated section 13e is located on the first end of first handle 2% opposite second handle 29d. Positioned between the flanges of bifurcated section 13s are spaced apart circular rotatable members 15c and 15d. Said rotatable members are detachably positioned within bifurcated section 13e by means of spindles 17d and 17e. The spindles 17d and We extend through the bifurcated section 13 and permit rotation of said rotatable members within first handle 29a. The peripheral wall portions of rotatable members 150 and 15d located between spindles l7d and 17e define convex wall sections l4f and 143, respectively. In this embodiment, a releasable flange closure member 31b in first handle 29i e can be opened by removing a screw 33b and turning the flange closure member on hinge 51.

The device of FIG. 7 is utilized in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. The device of FIG. '7 is especially useful in difficult to reach locations, such as oftentimes found in small equipment and instruments. The body assembly llc can have at least one pivotable handle to greatly increase the versatility of the bending device.

The described invention is useful for the bending or straightening of various size tubes, bendable pipe, wire, rod, bar and the like. The specific size of the bending device and the material from which it is constructed is dependent upon the size and physical strength of the intended article to be formed. Although this device can be used for large material, it is most useful for tube of a size up to about one-fourth inch in diameter. This size tubing is frequently employed in instruments where it is connected by either or both ends to the instrument and cannot, therefore, be generally reached and bent without deformation of the cross-section of the tube. The instant invention is beneficial in forming articles in such confined locations without significant crosssectional deformation of thin wall tubing, such as, copper, stainless steel, cold or heat formable plastics and the like.

To minimize cross-sectional deformation of the article, it is preferred the article to be formed be similar in configuration to the smallest cross-section of the passage. Moreover, it is highly preferred the article be a shape slightly smaller in size than the passage at the apices of the wall sections. For example, the diameter of a circular article can be up to about 0.02 inch smaller than a passage having a diameter of about onesixteenth inch to about one-eighth inch at the apices of defining wall sections having grooves of a uniform curviture. A circular article diameter can be up to about 0.03 inch less than a passage having a smallest diameter greater than about one-eighth inch and up to about one-fourth inch.

As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the device of the present invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications, which may differ from those described in the preceding description. For this reason, it is'to be fully. understood that all of the foregoing is intended to be illustrative and not to be construed or interpreted as being restrictive or otherwise limiting the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for bending an elongated article comprising an elongated body having at a first end a passage extending tranversely through said body to receive the elongated article, said passage having as defining elements two convex wall sections of predetermined cross-sectional configuration to accept the elongated article of similar cross-sectional configuration, said elements positioned in a generally opposed relationship in a plane operatively parallel to the major axis of said body; a releasable flange closure in the first end of said body to permit insertion of the article into the passage in a direction generally normal to the major axis of the article; and a handle pivotably secured to a second end of said body by a pivoting means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the major axis of the passage is in a plane generally normal to the major axis of said body.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said wall sections have a concave surface.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein one of said wall sections is defined by the periphery surface of a circular rotatable member.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said wall sections are defined by the periphery surface of two circular rotatable members.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said flange closure is pivotably mounted on said body.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein said flange closure is pivotably mounted on said body and adapted to rotate on a spindle positioned in said body.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said handle pivoting means includes mating serrated portions adapted to provent movement between contacting handle sections.

9. The device of claim ll wherein said handle pivoting means includes mating serrated portions adapted to prevent movement between contacting handle sections.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said pivoting means is adapted to prevent movement of said handle. 1k 

1. A device for bending an elongated article comprising an elongated body having at a first end a passage extending tranversely through said body to receive the elongated article, said passage having as defining elements two convex wall sections of predetermined cross-sectional configuration to accept the elongated article of similar cross-sectional configuration, said elements positioned in a generally opposed relationship in a plane operatively parallel to the major axis of said body; a releasable flange closure in the first end of said body to permit insertion of the article into the passage in a direction generally normal to the major axis of the article; and a handle pivotably secured to a second end of said body by a pivoting means.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the major axis of the passage is in a plane generally normal to the major axis of said body.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said wall sections have a concave surface.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein one of said wall sections is defined by the periphery surface of a circular rotatable member.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said wall sections are defined by the periphery surface of two circular rotatable members.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said flange closure is pivotably mounted on said body.
 7. The device of claim 5 wherein said flange closure is pivotably mounted on said body and adapted to rotate on a spindle positioned in said body.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said handle pivoting means includes mating serrated portions adapted to provent movement between contacting handle sections.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein said handle pivoting means includes mating serrated portions adapted to prevent movement between contacting handle sections.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein said pivoting means is adapted to prevent movement of said handle. 